Shopping right in your grocery store can add more energy and help ward off depression. Exactly where can you shop to make this happen? Right down the aisles of beautiful and colorful fruits and vegetables. These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals that can lessen disease, improve symptoms of depression and increase happiness. Maybe you are not fond of eating fruits and vegetables. Surely, there are at least just a few of each that you enjoy. Start with the fruits and vegetables that you do like, even if it is only one from each category. Commit to eating one serving a day of each, for three weeks, now gradually add one more from each category…it works, and your taste buds will be more acceptable to new foods.
Brain power and the idea of lessening your disease risks should motivate you to work hard to include fruits and vegetables in your diet. Some of the powerful brain vitamins and minerals you will consume are calcium, chromium, folate, iron, and magnesium. Other foods which will help boost vitamin and mineral intake are lean meats which are rich in iron (less 10% fat, i.e., 90/10). Next, add weekly servings of salmon to increase your omega 3’s, B-6, and B-12 vitamins.
Checking with your physician or pediatrician to learn just how much calcium is right for you or your family, can help guide your daily intake. Milk and fortified cereals will boost calcium and even iron intake. Allergic to milk? Try almond milk or rice milk to replace cow’s milk and use in recipes which include milk as an ingredient.
So next time you find yourself feeling moody for no reason at all, make a check list of your diet and see if you really are getting enough vitamins and minerals to nourish the brain and body.
